“Tides” is about anxiety, and how a lot of progress, especially when relating to mental health, isn’t linear.

You can be doing ok, seemingly getting better every day, then have a string of rough days in a row without any warning or apparent reason.

It’s been a long hard four years. I’ve lost a couple of friends and made some even better ones.

It’s not political to talk about general problems that have been going on in the country and people need to accept that. We should talk more about these issues and work together to make changes in our state.

During COVID-19 attempts to stay “safer at home,” being mandated to work from home, and already attending classes online, I’ve come to realize I don’t actually like my home.

Each day of this semester has been a blur. Each day bleeds into the next and I have lost all sense of control in my life. The student I was in January of 2020 and the student I am now are two different people.

I haven’t done anything fun or productive other than schoolwork for the last month.

I am a non-traditional student, I am a US Army veteran, I am a wife, and I am a mother. I am currently a senior at MTSU studying Photography.

I have never struggled much in school before.

Prior to the pandemic, I had never imagined that I would be one day questioning what to do with my life and the goals I have for myself.

So much change has happened this past year but little growth.

I was a freshman in Fall 2017. Now? I am graduating in May 2021. That’s 50ish days from now. Let me just tell you a little bit about my college experience, and how I have changed as a person.

I have been trying my best to follow all of the precautions only for people who I thought I respected to tell me that it doesn’t matter or constantly make excuses for their lack of concern.

I’ve never felt this overwhelmed in my entire life.

I am not sure what I am facing. Is this natural anxiety or health anxiety I should be worried about?

Covid has made finding an internship very difficult.

When I do find the time to enjoy myself I always seem to be feeling guilty.

I was sexually assaulted in my college dorm room early on in the spring semester of 2020.

I don’t feel like the same student I used to be and it upsets me a lot.

I’m tired of pretending.

I do not have the confidence of years past.